Arizona weekly citizen., 1887-09-10
GOODBYE. GERONIMO.
The President will Not Permit His
 Return.
And Promises that Peace Shall Reign T

And Promises that Peace Shall Reign T
 Arizona.
 Hon. Mark A. Smith, our Delegate tc Congress, returned yesterday morning from A two months absence in the east The principal object of his visit was to consult the president in relation to the Apache troubles in this territory, and see if some measures could not be de- yised to rid Arizona from the danger which constantly threatens 1t from murderuus Indian raids Upon his Rr- rival in Washington, Mark went to the White House. but was prevented for some days in executing his mission by the presence of numerous and constant y arriving delegations from various sec tions of the country, who came to solicit visits from the President. Having tray eled several thousand miles, however our Delegate finally determined tha. he would see the President, and chased him out to his country seat. Here we found the chief magistrate of fifty millions oi people alone, snd Duslly engaged in the affairs of State. The President receiv- cd bim very kindly. and indulged in a hearty laugh when Mark. by way of in troductioD. informed him that he had cone ss a committee of one to ask him to visit Tombstone on his western trip, Upon broscbing the object of h.s visit the Presiden. listened with grave stten- tion while Mark poured into his ears the story of ArizoDa's chief trouble, fre- quently iuterrupting him by questions, aud evinoing an earnest determination to get at the truth. When Mark told bIm of the massacre of Grace and Billy Diehl, during the last raid, the PresI- dent expressed open astonishment, and intimated tha. through official sources he had learned that these parties had been killed by Msxicans and that the only damage done on the raid was the kill ing of few cattle and the alarming of the people. When Mark had conclud- cd his statement, the President said that when be ordered the removal of Geron- mo and bis band to Florida, be firmly believed that he had put stop for all time to Apache deviltFy ID Arizona, and had he imagined for an instant that such was not the case he would not have rested until eve-y turbulent Indian had been removed from the Territory. Con tInuiug, the President stated that al. most daily since the removal of Geroni- mo he had been importuned by promi. neDt persons ID the east, and by delegs- lions from humane societies, to permit the murdeTer's return, with his band, to Arizona. The parties preferring the re- quest claimed to have indisputable proof that Geronimo. instead Ot being the bloodthiristy fiend pictured by Ari- zonians. was the vlclim of a despes Gte, lsvless class; which in the main cousti- tuted the population of Arizona; who had stolen his cattle, killed and Oui- ragged his people. and finally forced him to go upon the v6rpGth Tn self-defease The pressure upon me was enormous, ? said the President, "but after a thor ough investigation of the matter, wss more fully confirmed in my previous opinion that the removal of Geronimo was right and proper, he is now in Flor ida, and you may rest assured that be will never again trouble the people of Arizona" Finding that the President was even more than favorsbly disposed to look at the Apache problem from his own standpoint, our Delegate then suggested the sdvisability of dissrming ng the Indians; pointing out that as they were amply provided for by the gov ernment. and not obliged to hunt for subsistence, that they had no use for weapons; and that furthermore if they were dislrmed, they would be DO longer a constant mensnce to the lives ard property of our people. To thIs propo- sition the President gave bis most cordial assent. and farther stated that he was fully determined to give peace tO Arizona by some means or oiher Our Delegate says that be would have brosohed the subject of the removal of all the Apaches from the Territory, but for the fact that he realized from the tone oi the Presidents remarks that should thIs move be attempted at pres ent, there would be a cry at once raised in the east, that the object of the re- movsl, was to get possession of the In- dians' lands. Mark returns to us fully satisfied with the success of his mission and firmly convinced that in Arizona 1t least, the Indian would ride on his raid no more.-Prospector